Adjustable light fixture



Sept. 3, 1968 G. A. PECAUT 3,399,856

ADJUSTABLE LIGHT FIXTURE Filed May 25, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet l \g 2 I0 2 7 $65.3 2J r '4 a FIG. 2

FIG. 5

INVENTOR GEORGE A PECAUT Sept. 3, 1968 s. A. PECAUT ADJUSTABLE LIGHT FIXTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 25. 1966 INVENTOR GEORGE A PECAUT United States Patent M 3,399,856 ADJUSTABLE LIGHT FIXTURE George A. Pecaut, 23219 Victory Blvd., Canoga Park, Calif. 91304 Filed May 25, 1966, Ser. No. 552,801 9 Claims. (Cl. 248279) This invention generally relates to an improvement in adjustable lamps, and more particularly to new and improved means for supporting a light for complete adjustability in a series of universal movements.

In the field of adjustable light fixtures there are a variety of structures for moving the lamp into the proximity of the subject to which the light is to be applied However, it is often desirable to obtain universal adjustability which goes beyond the limited movability usually available. It is particularly desirable in professional and technical fields, such as medicine and dentistry, for example, to utilize light fixtures with respect to which the light can be moved longitudinally or vertically over relatively great distances while still retaining an otherwise fully universal movement, and being of a configuration capable of easy and rapid movement into and out of the region to which light is to be applied.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a light fixture which is universally movable.

Another object is to provide a light fixture capable of attachment to either a vertical or a horizontal surface.

A further object is to provide a light fixture capable of movement over considerable longitudinal distances and of easy and rapid movement into and out of desired positions, while incorporating positional integrity which substantially obviates accidental movement.

A still further object of the invention, is to provide a fixture having high values from both the utilitarian and aesthetic viewpoints.

Other objects of invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connect-ion with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the light fixtures of this invention, illustrating the various components in one of numerous possible ultimate positions;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view of the base of this invention in a typical location as taken along line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view of the attachment portion of the base taken along lines 3--3 of FIGURE 2 and partially cut-away to better illustrate that portion of the invention and eliminating any showing of the roller assembly;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view in partial cutaway of a roller unit and the arm attachment means of the invention;

FIGURE 5 is a fnont elevational view of the carriage member of FIGURE 4 as taken along line 44 thereof;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view in partial cut-away of a typical arm and lock mechanism of this invention taken generally from the region indicated by the arrow 6 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view partially cut-away to show the light retention and swiveling structure in the general region designated as 7 in FIGURE 1.

In greater detail the invention illustrated in the accom- 3,399,856 Patented Sept. 3, 1968 panying drawings relates to a light fixture particularly useful in medical and dental practice and with respect to which a base is adaptable to either wall or ceiling mounting and is provided with an internally positioned roller assembly which movably supports the remainder of the structure. The roller assembly retains a series of interconnected arms to which the light proper is ultimately afiixed, the various arms and the light assembly being capable of movement relative to one another and providing complete universality of movement, lock means being provided to retain the various components in particular relative positions in accordance with the desires of the operator.

FIGURE 1 illustrates the light fixture and lamp of this invention in a typical embodiment. The entire fixture, generally indicated as 10, basically comprises a base or a track member 11 supported by a pair of clips 13. An adapter 14 is mounted adjacent and for movement along the track member. It is supported by a roller assembly 15 which is not shown in FIGURE 1, but which is shown in detail in FIGURES 2, 4 and 5. A first arm 16 is attached to the adapter 14 for rotation with respect thereto and a second arm 17 is pivoted to the arm 16 and has a handle 18 for accomplishing its movement. The second arm 17 also contains lock means to be hereinafter described. A third arm 19 is pivoted to an opposite end of the second arm 17 and a lamp assembly 20 is universally supported upon the third arm by a pivot means 21 and is movable by a handle 22.

As illustrated in greater detail in FIGURES 2 and 3, the track member 11 is preferably fabricated from an extrusion of square or rectangular configuration and is slotted, as at 23, along the length of one of its sides 24. The side walls must be of a thickness sufficient to support the balance of the fixture structure substantially without deformation.

The clips 12 and 13 may be cut from extrusions properly shaped to match the end configuration of the track member 11. These clips may be welded, screwed or otherwise conveniently attached to the ends of the track member 11 and may contain a plurality of holes 25 or other means for fastening to supporting structure.

Internally of the track member 11 and extending over the length thereof in fixed relation to a rear wall 26 is a stop-receiving means 27 in the cross-sectional form of a hat section and containing a series of slits or perforations 28 along its length.

A roller assembly 15 is positioned internally of the track member 11 so as to be longitudinally movable with respect thereto. It is usually desirable, though not mandatory, that the roller assembly be capable of traversing the entire length of the track member 11. The roller assembly, as illustrated in FIGURES 2, 4 and 5 includes a carrier or base 29 of substantially rectangular shape and having a wheel 30 upon each of its corners so as to bear against and roll upon the interior of the rear track wall 26 upon either side of the stop receiving means 27. Mounted upon each end of the carrier 29 is a spring means or plate 32a, each having a necked down portion 33 to provide the spring means with a resilient relationship to the carrier 29. Each of the spring means also includes a pair of wheels 34 its opposite sides'adapted to yieldably contact the interior of the track member front wall 24. The sizing and the design of the components just described are so related that when the roller assembly is installed within the track means 11 the wheels and 34 always bear against their respective walls 26 and 24 in a spring-retained relationship.

The carrier 29 also supports in fixed relation thereto a plate 35 having an upset portion 35a upon either end thereof. A pair of wheels is mounted upon each upset end 35a so as to extend into contact with the interior surfaces of a pair of side walls 36 and 37 of the track member 11. These wheels, designated by numerals 38 serve to laterally center the roller assembly at all times within the track member 11 and to facilitate its smooth and noiseless traverse of the track member as it is moved longitudinally therethrough. Attached to the carrier 29 is a detent 39 which extends generally away from the spring means 32a and is of sufiicient length to engage a selected one of the perforations 28 through the stop receiving means 27, thereby preventing further traverse of the roller assembly in either longitudinal direction.

Also fixedly attached to the carrier base 29, through the plate 35 and so as to be carried with both of those parts, is an extension member 40 which supports the integrally formed adapter or carrier member 41. This member has a perforated bottom portion 42 and it supports a spacer or bearing member 43 within the carrier 41. The extension member 40 extends through the slot 23 in the track member 11 such that the carrier member 41 is supported by it exteriorly of the track member.

Hence, longitudinal movement of the roller assembly within the track member causes the carrier member 11 to be similarly moved along the track member length.

Movement of the roller assembly from place to place along the length of the base 11 is accomplished by exerting a lifting force upon the arms, as viewed in FIGURE 1. This results in a pivoting of the roller assembly 15, as viewed in FIGURE 4, about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the base 11 and, a flexing of the necked down portion 33 of the spring means plate 32a, since the wheels 34 thereon are in contact with the wall 24 and cannot move. This flexing permits the detent 39 to be removed from the perforation 28 in which it is engaged, thereby facilitating movement of the roller assembly and its supported structure. Release of the lifting force from the arms allows the detent to re-engage and stabilizes the roller assembly in its new position.

When the fixture is ceiling-mounted the detent 39 is placed upon the opposite end of the roller assembly. Since the hanging load of the arms tends to thereby maintain the detent in its engagement with the stop receiving means 27, the roller assembly must be rotated opposite to the above-described direction to cause detent disengagement.

The first arm 16 is also preferably fabricated from a tubular member of rectangular cross-section, as is each of the other arms to be hereinafter described. First arm 16 is supported from the carrier member 41 in axial alignment within it, and is adapted for rotation about this common major axis. This support is provided by a trunnion assembly 44 which includes a portion 45 of major size, an intermediate portion 46 of greater diameter than the perforation through the bottom portion 42 of the carrier 11, to prevent its protrusion therethrough, and a pin 47 extending through that perforation and through the spacer 43. The pin 47 is retained by a nut 48 to permit the first arm 16 and the trunnion assembly 44 to perform the noted rotation with respect to the carrier member 41.

Upon an opposite end 49 of the arm 16 is a multiply perforated retainer ring 49 of semi-circular configuration. The ends of the retainer ring are fixedly attached to the interior walls of the first arm 16 by rivets or other suitable retaining means. It is of a diameter greater than the width of the arm 16, thereby necessitating that one of its ends be passed through a perforation 50 in a wall of the arm 16.

A pin 51 is retained through the side walls of the arm 16 opposite to the walls just described and through the side walls of the second arm 17 so as to mount the second arm 17 upon the first arm 16 for pivotal movement with respect to it. An end 52 of the second arm 17, which is slightly wider than is the first arm 16, partially encompassed the end 49 of arm 16. The end 52 also includes a perforation 53 through which the retainer 49 is positioned.

Upon either side of the handle 18, which is substantially centrally located and which is suitably mounted in any conventional manner to the second arm 17, is a lock means or assembly 54. This locks assembly with the retainer 49 to position the second arm 17 with respect to the first arm 16. The lock assembly 54 generally comprises a pair of guide members 55 and 56 shaped to match the interior of the arm 17 and appropriately retained with respect thereto. These guide members are positioned in spaced relation to one another and are centrally perforated so as to receive a common pin 58. A washer-type stop 59 is fixed about the pin 58. It is normally urged against one side of the guide member 55 by a bias spring 60, this spring having its opposite end bearing against the near surface of the guide member 56. Any suitable handle, such as the handle illustrated as 61 may be attached to and end of the pin 58 and extended through a longitudinally extending slot 62 in one wall of the arm 17. The handle 61 may be drawn toward the handle 18 by the operator, thereby causing the spring 60 to be compressed through the action of the stop 58. This action simultaneously withdraws the pin 58 from a normally inserted position within one of the perforations in the retainer ring 49. It will thus be recognized that when the pin 58 is so withdrawn and the second arm 17 may be pivoted about the pin 51 with respect to the first arm 16. The release of the handle 61 permits the pin 58 to be reinserted into another perforation within the retainer 49 which is properly aligned in any desired preselected position and to thereby rigidly retain the relative positions of the two arms in that position.

One end of the third arm 19 is pivotally connected to the second arm 17 opposite its end 52 for movement in a plane common to all three arms. Stabilization of the relative positions of the arms 17 and 19 is also controllable through the operation of a lock assembly which is the mirror image of the lock assembly 54 described above, the lock assembly proper being mounted in the second arm 17 and the retainer being attached to the near end of the third arm 19. This relationship is best illustrated in FIG- URE 1.

It will be apparent from the foregoing discussion that any movement of either of the arms 17 or 19 about its pivotal axis results in the extremity of that arm, as related to the position of the base 11, moving either toward or away from the base 11 and also in changing its relative position with respect to the opposite ends of the base 11.

It is additionally significant from both the storage and functional standpoints that the three arms may be moved into and retained in a position which is essentially parallel to and in substantially total contact along its entire length with the front side 24 of the base 11 when the roller assembly is relatively near base end upon which the clip 25 is mounted. When the arms are so oriented, the positioned relationship is facilitated by the ability of each of the handles 18, 61 and the counterpart to the handle 61, to fit within the slot 23 of the base 11.

The ability to lock the arms in their relative positions also results in a fixture which is not susceptible of being bumped and moved from the location at which it was placed. This is of particular significance in professions wherein it is necessary that light played upon a selected region remain so oriented. This locking feature also makes practicable the mounting of the fixture upon either the wall or the ceiling while retaining its positional integrity. Nevertheless, the extreme mobility of the fixture permits the light proper to be moved entirely from the region of use easily and rapidly and enhances its characteristic of storability in a relatively remote region.

In an end of the third arm 19 opposite its pivotal connection just described, a cup member 63 is retained within the tubular arm 19. A cover plate 64 positioned over the arm end retains a swivel socket 65 from in the cup member 63 and prevents its removal therefrom against the action of a biasing spring 66. A modified ball member 67, having a neck 68, is secured to or integral with a support 69. A handle 70 extending from the support 69 is provided to facilitate the rotation or the pivoting of the ball 67 with respect to its socket 65. Upon the opposite extremity of the support 69 is mounted the lamp cover 20, perforated so as to effectively dissipate heat from a lamp 71 (FIGURE 1). The lamp 71 is preferably of the rearward heat dispersal type now sold commercially. Electric wires, such as those indicated at 72 may be conveniently positioned and effectively hidden within the various arms and the base 11 for electrical connection purposes.

Each of the components described hereinabout may have its external surface color-anodized or otherwise prepared to present a pleasing aesthetic appearance to the eye of the beholder.

From the foregoing description it will be readily understood that this invention provides a light fixture (which may be utilized for purposes other than to support a light) which incorporates a high degree mobility such that the lamp supported by it may be moved into a virtually limitless number of positions about any of its major axes.

Although the invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it is to be clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation, the spirit and scope with this invention being limited only by the terms of appended claims.

I claim:

1. A universally adjustable mechanism comprising:

longitudinally extending track means adapted for attachment to a supporting structure;

rollers means mounted upon said track means for movement along the length thereof and including a stop means;

stop receiving means afiixed to said track means for receiving said stop means in a plurality of locations; first tubular arm means having an end rotatably mounted upon said roller means for movement therewith;

a second tubular arm means having an end pivotally attached to said first arm opposite said end;

third tubular arm means pivotally attached to an end of said second arm means opposite said first arm means;

lock means separately positioned in each end of said second arm means adapted to retain it in one of a plurality of selected positions relative to the position of the respective adjacent arms; and

a structural mount upon said third arm means opposite said second arm means for receiving structure to be moved by said universal adjusting mechanism.

2. The universal adjusting mechanism of claim 1 wherein said mount upon said third arm means is rotatable and pivotable and is adapted to support an electric lamp thereon.

3. The universal adjusting mechanism of claim 1 wherein said track is a hollow tubular member of substantially square cross-section and is slotted along one of its sides, said roller means being mounted internally of said track and including an attachment portion extending through said slot means for attachment to said first arm means.

4. The universal adjusting mechanism of claim 3 wherein:

said roller means is an assembly which includes a plurality of rollers adapted to contact an internal surface of each wall of said tubular member;

said stop receiving means is a longitudinally extending member having a series of perforation means in spaced relation from a wall of said tubular member opposite said slot means; and

said stop means is a protrusion extending toward said last-mentioned wall and engageable in said perforations.

5. The universal mechanism of claim 5 wherein:

said roller assembly is provided with a central portion having wheels adapted to contact a wall of said tubular member opposite said slot means; and

a pair of flexible spring-tensioned mounting members are provided, one said member exending from each end of said roller assembly and a pair of wheels being mounted upon each said flexible mounting member, one such wheel adapted to contact said tubular member upon each side of said slot means, said flexible mounting members being capable of flexing to facilitate insertion and removable of said stop means relative to said stop receiving means.

6. The universal mechanism of claim 5 wherein the longitudinal axes of said track means and said first arm means are substantially parallel and connected by a rotatable pivot means to accommodate rotation of said first arm means about its own axis.

7. The universal adjusting mechanism of claim 6 wherein a light is retained upon said third arm mount and said mount is pivoted for universal movement relative to a longitudinal axis of said third arm.

,8. The universal mechanism of claim 1 wherein said second arm means includes in each of its ends a lock assembly, each said lock assembly including;

a pair of centrally perforated guide members retained within said second arm in spaced relation from one another;

pin means extending through said perforations in both said guide members and having a free end normally 'biased toward an adjacent arm means;

a handle connected to said pin means opposite said free end and extending substantially laterally outward through a side of said second arm means for moving said pin means against said pin-biasing action; and

a pin receiver means attached to an end of each said arm means adjacent the respective ends of said second arm means, said pin-receiver means located partially within said second arm means and including means defining a plurality of perforations therethrough oriented to receive said pin means when said second arm means is pivoted relative to the respective adjacent said arm means.

9. A universally adjustable light fixture comprising:

a tubular track member slotted substantially over the total of its length;

a roller assembly positioned within said track member and including a plurality of wheels bearing against the interior walls of said track member so as to facilitate rolling movement of said roller assembly and lrlicludin-g a support portion extending through said s o detent means upon said roller assembly extending in a direction opposite said slot;

detent receiving means fixed internally of said track member opposite said slot and substantially co-extensive therewith, said detent means being engageable in said detent receiving means responsive to lateral movement of said roller assembly relative to said track member;

a first arm rotatably mounted upon said support portion, a major axis of said first arm oriented substantially parallel to said track member;

a second arm pivotally connected at a first end thereof to an opposite end of said first arm, said second arm including interiorly thereof a pair of lock assemblies, one such lock assembly positioned in each end of said second arm, each said lock assembly including a pin member having a free end biased toward one end of said second arm;

a receiving means mounted in an end of said said first and third arm adjacent said second arm, each including a plurality of perforations arranged to receive said free end of an adjacently positioned said pin member; and

a light pivotally mounted upon an end of said third arm opposite said second arm, whereby said arms are movable longitudinally of said track member with said roller assembly and said arms are movable relative to one another and in a common plane.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS ROY D. FRAZIER, Primary Examiner.

J. F. FOSS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A UNIVERSALLY ADJUSTABLE MECHANISM COMPRISING: LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING TRACK MEANS ADAPTED FOR ATTACHMENT TO A SUPPORTING STRUCTURE; ROLLERS MEANS MOUNTED UPON SAID TRACK MEANS FOR MOVEMENT ALONG THE LENGTH THEREOF AND INCLUDING A STOP MEANS; STOP RECEIVING MEANS AFFIXED TO SAID TRACK MEANS FOR RECEIVING SAID STOP MEANS IN A PLURALITY OF LOCATIONS; FIRST TUBULAR ARM MEANS HAVING AN END ROTATABLY MOUNTED UPON SAID ROLLER MEANS FOR MOVEMENT THEREWITH; A SECOND TUBULAR ARM MEANS HAVING AN END PIVOTALLY ATTACHED TO SAID FIRST ARM OPPOSITED SAID END; THIRD TUBULAR ARM MEANS PIVOTALLY ATTACHED TO AN END OF SAID SECOND ARM MEANS OPPOSITE SAID FIRST ARM MEANS; LOCK MEANS SEPARATELY POSITIONED IN EACH END OF SAID SECOND ARM MEANS ADAPTED TO RETAIN IT IN ONE OF A PLURALITY OF SELECTED POSITIONS RELATIVE TO THE POSITION OF THE RESPECTIVE ADJACENT ARMS; AND A STRUCTURAL MOUNT UPON SAID THIRD ARM MEANS OPPOSITE SAID SECOND ARM MEANS FOR RECEIVING STRUCTURE TO BE MOVED BY SAID UNIVERSAL ADJUSTING MECHANISM. 